OverviewGain a better understanding of the land conflict between Jews and Palestinian Arabs and its roots in 4,000 years of history, theology, and politics.

Publishers DescriptionTwo peoples, Jews and Palestinian Arabs, lay claim to the same piece of land. But who does it really belong to? Scripture, history, and contemporary politics add to the volatile conflict in the Middle East. Whose Promised Land?, now in a fully revised and updated fifth edition, provides an evenhanded approach to this complex dilemma. The book begins with the history of the territory, explaining the development of the conflict and the complexity of the issues. The second section surveys biblical teaching on the theme of the land, both from the Old Testament point of view and the perspective of Jesus and his followers. Building on the analysis of history and the biblical studies, the final part examines the major contemporary forces affecting the conflict today. Unlike many evangelical Christian books on the topic, Whose Promised Land? does not automatically assume a pro-Israel stance, but seeks to present an honest appraisal of modern Israel while clearly delineating the interrelated issues surrounding the crisis in the Middle East.

Citations And Professional ReviewsWhose Promised Land?: The Continuing Crisis Over Israel and Palestine by Colin Gilbert Chapman & Collin Chapman has been reviewed by professional book reviewers and journalists at the following establishments -

Christianity Today - 12/01/2012 page 66

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More About Colin Gilbert Chapman & Collin Chapman

Colin Chapman is Lecturer in Islamic Studies at the Near East School of Theology in Beirut, Lebanon. The author of several books, including Christianity on Trial, Islam and the West, and The Case for Christianity, he has lived and worked in the Middle East for sixteen years during various times since 1968.

Reviews - What do customers think about Whose Promised Land??

WONDERFUL BOOK!!! Jun 1, 2008

THIS BOOK IS VERY FAIR AND BALANCED. THOSE EUROPEAN JEWS THERE ARE NOT REAL JEWS ANYWAY, THEY ARE DESCENDED FROM THE KHAZARS. THEY ARE RECENT CONVERTS TO JUDAISM, HAVING CONVERTED TO AVOID THE WARS BETWEEN ISLAM AND CHRISTIANITY, THEY HAVE NO CLAIM TO ISRAEL. THAT HONOR GOES TO THE REAL JEWS WHO ARE BLACK IN ORIGIN. WITNESS SOLOMON'S STATEMENT "I AM BLACK, BUT COMELY". THESE EUROPEAN SETTLER COLONIES ARE IMPOSTOR JEWS, WORSE THAN THE SETTLER COLONIES IN SOUTH AFRICA. THE NOBEL PRIZE RECIPIENT ARCHBISHOP DESMOND TUTU WAS BANNED FROM SPEAKING AT ST. THOMAS UNIVERSITY IN MINNESOTA DUE TO HIS STATEMENT THAT ISRAELI TREATMENT OF THE PALESTINIANS IS WORSE THAN APARTHEID WAS IN SOUTH AFRICA (AZANIA). JEWISH ORGANIZATIONS PUT SEVERE PRESSURE ON THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES IF THEY ALLOWED HIM TO SPEAK. THESE TYPES OF WHITEMAIL TACTICS ARE PAR FOR THE COURSE FOR THE ADL AND OTHER POWERFUL JEWISH ORGANIZATIONS. JUST LOOK AT THEIR TREATMENT OF THE PALESTINIANS, AND EVEN THE NON-WHITE JEWS. THEY TRIED TO MAKE THE BLACK ETHIOPIAN FALASHA JEWS SUBSCRIBE TO THEIR EUROPEANIZED VERSION OF JUDAISM UNDER PENALTY THAT THEY WOULD NOT BE RECOGNIZED AS JEWS. SOLOMON'S BLACK ANCESTORS ARE THE RIGHTFUL HEIRS TO THAT LAND, NOT WHITE PEOPLE, WHO WERE CAVE DWELLERS IN THE CAVES OF THE CAUCUSES MOUNTAINS DURING ISRAEL'S ANCIENT HISTORICAL PERIOD. THAT IS WHY THEY ARE REFERRED TO AS CAUCASIANS. NONE OF THESE ANCIENT HISTORICAL EVENTS TOOK PLACE IN EUROPE, THEY TOOK PLACE IN WHAT IS NOW FICTITIOUSLY LABELED THE MIDDLE EAST (ACTUALLY THE LAND MASS IS PART OF AFRICA). THERE ARE ONLY 6 CONTINENTS & THE MIDDLE EAST IS NOT ONE OF THEM), NOR IS EUROPE AS IT IS ACTUALLY WESTERN ASIA. *REMEMBER ONE OF THE RULES FOR A CONTINENT IS THAT IT MUST BE A SEPARATE LAND MASS UNTO ITSELF, BUT DUE TO RACIST HISTORIANS WHITES MADE A NEW CONTINENT WHERE THERE WAS NONE BEFORE. TRUTH CRUSHED TO EARTH SHALL RISE AGAIN. AS-SALAAM ALAIKUM

Reptile Tongue Mar 9, 2008

When reading this book, one ought to be aware of the theological framework of the author - the tradition in which he writes that has contributed to shaping his personal beliefs and opinions. In Chapman's case, it is Replacement Theology, also called Supercessionism. This doctrine comes from the so-called "saint" Augustine who rejected the biblical concept of a thousand year Messianic reign of peace. He was thus an amillennialist as opposed to a post- or premillennialist. He also claimed that the church had superceded or replaced the Hebrew nation and that all the scriptural promises to Israel in the Old Testament thus belonged to the church. Augustine's ideas became Catholic orthodoxy and at the Reformation they were more or less accepted unchanged, entering the Lutheran and Calvinist traditions.

The tragic history of Christian Antisemitism is well documented in books likeTHE CRUCIFIXION OF THE JEWS by Franklin Littell and Christian Antisemitism: A History of Hate by William Nicholls. It is often called Anti-Judaism in the literature but it led to the same thing: oppression, expulsion and murder. In this regard, see The Popes Against the Jews: The Vatican's Role in the Rise of Modern Anti-Semitism by David Kertzer. There is no doubt that the destructive effect of Replacement Theology has substantially contributed to these crimes and ultimately to the Holocaust.

Although it is not immediately apparent, Chapman's book falls squarely in this Antisemitic tradition. There is much hand-wringing about historical and Christian Antisemitism. The latter comes across as insincere, because one cannot criticize the attitudes of Augustine, Chrysostom and Luther without mentioning Replacement Theology.

What marks the Christian Antisemite? In the first place, a twisting of Old Testament prophecies concerning Israel, usurping every promise to make it applicable to "the Church" or to "Christ." In the second place, the refusal to make a distinction between the Abrahamic covenant regarding ownership of the land and the Mosaic covenant of laws. Thirdly, a fuzzy, ethereal view of mankind's ultimate destiny wherein no distinctive cultures survive, all become "one in Christ". Geddit? There is no multiculturalism in heaven! Finally, a cursory or dismissive treatment of the facts that led to the rebirth of Israel and of the subsequent wars against the Jewish State. All of these are evident in Whose Promised Land? to a greater or lesser degree.

There is a strong undercurrent of a denial of Israel's right to life although the author never explicitly states it. He quotes left, right and centre (though mainly Left) and presents a distorted view of the Middle East conflict. For example he implies that Israel is responsible for the formation of Hamas while including in an appendix the covenant of this terror group that includes statements like "Hamas aims for every inch of Palestine" and accuses the Jewish people of having been behind communism, capitalism, freemasonry, the Rotarians, etc. Oddly there is no mention of global warming, yet.

Chapman's interpretations serve only to support his preconceived opinion. For example he claims that the prophecies of Ezekiel 36 and 37 have no validity today. He plays word-games, denying in one passage that the church replaced Israel and then going on to assert that early Christians did not consider it "important for Jews to express their distinctive identity through ... a Jewish state." Oh and he replaces the concept of "replacement" with the idea of "fulfillment." Furthermore, he draws a false analogy between Joshua's conquest of Canaan and the history of the Jewish State by throwing around words like "ethnic cleansing". At present, approximately 20% of Israeli citizens are Arabs and 16% of its citizens are Muslim. At last count its Arab citizens were represented by 10 members in the Israeli parliament belonging to three political parties: Balad, Hadash and the United Arab List - Ta'al.

When considering the options for peace, Chapman looks at the various scenarios like the possible defeat of Israel or its opponents, options like the One-State (Rwanda) and the Two-State solution, concluding that the last is the best. In discussing the history of the conflict, he does not have much to say about the Arab attempt to strangle Israel at its birth in 1948, the open calls for genocide by Arab leaders then and now or the co-operation of the Grand Mufti of Jerusalem with Nazi Germany which is well document in the book The Nazi Connection to Islamic Terrorism: Adolf Hitler and Haj Amin al-Husseini by Chuck Morse.

The antagonism towards Israel is more insidious in this book, less overt than in the work of Chapman's associates like Stephen Sizer and Naim Ateek. Christians must put the Discern-ometer on max when exposed to these Leftist theologians, as well as of course to those Rightwing Christian Antisemites like Pat Buchanan. For more information on replacement theology and its contemporary manifestations, I recommend Future Israel: Why Christian Anti-Judaism Must Be Challenged by Barry Horner. Paul Charles Merkley's illuminating Christian Attitudes Towards the State of Israel provides the facts on where various denominations stand today on the issue of the Jewish State.

Why is the Christian Bible the only source for this book? Mar 5, 2008

Why does this book use a Christian Bible for the "Old Testament" parts? Could've used a Jewish Bible y'know!

Good intro to arguments of both sides Dec 18, 2007

This book is a good introduction to arguments of both sides in Palestine/Israel. The reader will enjoy the abundance of "quotes" from significant figures on key issues in a single book, instead of tirelessly searching and sourcing them on him/her own.

The second half of the book is more theology and theory than history and facts. In here, some readers might feel less secure than in the earlier pages. In this part, Chapman offers another Christian interpretation of the Holy Bible which is less literal and (according to him) more progressive, at least so far as finding a lasting peaceful solution to the conflict in the Holy Land is concerned. I think Chapman deserves to be listened to especially in a time when more unyielding religious views are not so scanty.

Colin Chapman's book is sprinkled with quotes from both 'sides', warns of the danger of older forms of anti-Semitism and focuses on some of the hardships Jews have suffered. It urges caution in forming judgement and maintains an appearance of objectivity and balance, including an interesting, if ironic, quote from Edward Said on the need for intellectual honesty.

However the foundation of his section examining the justice of the dispute is a favourable citation of Naeem Ateek, who himself part justifies suicide terrorism. In the quote Ateek claims biblical Naboth's murder and the theft of his property by the vile Ahab, 'has been re-enacted thousands of times since the creation of the State of Israel'. This fabricated accusation lies at the heart of the book's case.

Chapman almost completely ignores the defensive character of the 1948 and 1967 wars (almost as though the Poles and Czechs were responsible for Dresden or Hitler's 'murder' in 1945), the repeated calls for Israel's annihilation by Arab leaders and their media, the sharp difference in Arab and Jewish murder rates before 1948, and extremely oppressive British policies in handling refugees frm the Holocaust. Not surprisingly he also neglects to mention the Palestinian Grand Mufti's close association with the Nazis, meeting with Hitler and shared genocidal intentions.

His quotes are highly selective and I suspect many are sourced from the partisan Middle East Council of Churches, as well as some rather one-sided historians (Gentile and Jewish).

Let the reader beware of a carefully concealed but highly virulent bias against Israel!

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